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Evolution of Environmental

Policy in India

Raghwendra Shandilya

A Brief Overview

Area – 3,287,590 Km2

Population - 1.29 billion

Population Density - 389.62 P/Km2

Land Area - 90.08 %

Water Area - 9.92 %

Forest Cover - 24.01 %

Number of Birds Species - 1,250

Number of Fish Species - 2,546

Number of Amphibian Species – 197

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Policy and Laws in Ancient (500 BC-1638 AD)

India • Protection and cleaning up of environment was the essence of

Vedic (1500–500 BC) culture.

• Charak Samhita (medical Science book of 900 BC - 600 BC)

give many instructions for the use of water for maintaining its

purity.

• Under the Arthashastra (an ancient book on statecraft,

economic policy and military strategy), various punishments

were prescribed for cutting trees, damaging forests, and for

killing animals and environmental ethics of nature conservation

were not only applicable to common man but the rulers and kings

were also bound by them.

Policy and Laws in Medieval (1638-1800 AD) India

• To Mughal rulers, forest meant no more than

woodlands where they could hunt.

• Barring “royal trees” which enjoyed patronage

from being cut except upon a fee, there was no

restriction on cutting of other trees, hunting

animals, etc.

• Forests during this period shrank steadily in

size.

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Laws in British (1800-1947 AD) India

• Shore Nuisance (Bombay and Kolaba) Act, 1853

imposed restrictions on the fouling of seawater.

• Merchant Shipping Act of 1858 dealt with prevention

of sea pollution by oil.

• The Fisheries Act, 1897

• The Bengal Smoke Nuisance Act of 1905

• Bombay Smoke Nuisance Act of 1912

• Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act, 1912

Laws after Independence (1947)

• The India Constitution adopted in 1950 did not deal with the

subject of environment or prevention and control of pollution

as such.

• It was the Stockholm Declaration of 1972 which turned the

attention of the Indian Government to the boarder perspective

of environmental protection .

• Comprehensive (special) environmental laws were enacted by

the Central Government in India.

• National Council for Environmental Policy and Planning was

set up in 1972 which was later evolved into Ministry of

Environment and Forests (MoEF) in 1985.

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Laws after Independence (1947)

• The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, aimed at rational and

modern wild life management.

• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974,

provides for the establishment of pollution control boards at

Centre and States to act as watchdogs for prevention and

control of pollution.

• The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 aimed to check

deforestation, diversion of forest land for non-forestry

purposes, and to promote social forestry.

• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,1981, aimed

at checking air pollution via pollution control boards.

Laws after Independence (1947)

• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is a legislation which

provides for single focus in the country for protection of

environment and aims at plugging the loopholes in existing

legislation.

• The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, provides for

mandatory insurance for the purpose of providing immediate

relief to person affected by accidents occurring while handling

any hazardous substance.

• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002, is a major legislation

intervention effected in the name of the communities supposed

to be involved in the protection of biodiversity around them.

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National Environment Policy, 2006

Objective

• Conservation of Critical Environmental Resources

• Intra-generational Equity: Livelihood Security for the Poor

• Inter-generational Equity

• Integration of Environmental Concerns in Economic and

Social Development

• Efficiency in Environmental Resource Use

• Enhancement of Resources for Environmental Conservation

National Environment Policy, 2006

Principles

• Human Beings are at the Centre of Sustainable Development

Concerns

• Environmental Protection is an Integral part of the Development

Process

• The Precautionary Approach

• Economic Efficiency

• Environmental Standard Setting

• Preventive Action

• Environmental Offsetting

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Reform Areas

National Environment Policy, 2006

Enhancing and Conserving Environmental Resources

Land Degradation

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National Environment Policy, 2006

Enhancing and Conserving Environmental Resources

Forests and Wildlife

National Environment Policy, 2006

Enhancing and Conserving Environmental Resources

Biodiversity, Traditional Knowledge and Natural Heritage

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National Environment Policy, 2006

Enhancing and Conserving Environmental Resources

Freshwater Resources

National Environment Policy, 2006

Enhancing and Conserving Environmental Resources

Air Pollution

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National Environment Policy, 2006

Enhancing and Conserving Environmental Resources

Conservation of Manmade Heritage

The Underlying Causes of Environmental

Degradation in India Social Factors

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The Underlying Causes of Environmental

Degradation in India

• Non-existent or poorly functioning markets for environmental

goods and services

• The manufacturing technology adopted by most of the

industries which generally is based on intensive resource and

energy use.

• Expansion of chemical based industry

• Growing transport activities

• Expansion of port and harbour activities.

Economic Factors

The Underlying Causes of Environmental

Degradation in India

Institutional Factors

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Thanks for your

patience